The skeletons are hung from the rafters with care while visions of Jack-o-Lanterns fly through their head, which could only mean one thing: it’s Halloween! Yes, it’s that magical time of year when boos and ghouls flock to the streets donning their best costumes to stock up on as much candy as their baskets and pillow cases can accommodate.
Although the inevitable sugar rush might turn your darling angels into energetic devils, we would never suggest you ban your kids from trick-or-treating or be that house on the block, handing out toothbrushes and floss (not that we’d be against that). But we do have a fun way to trick your child into choosing a better treat. These fun, tooth-healthy snacks are simple to make, fun to eat, and perfect for sharing at a Halloween party or as a festive holiday classroom snack.
Apple Spiders
What you need:
- Apples
- Peanut Butter
- Pretzel Sticks
- Mini Chocolate-Chips
Instructions:
- Slice apples into ¼ inch slices.
- Take smooth or chunky peanut butter or a nut-free spread like soynut butter or Nutella and use a knife to spread it between two apple slices.
- Press pretzel sticks into the spread and then put the other slice of apple on top.
- Use mini-chocolate chips or other hard candies to create the eyes.
Frankenstein Grape Cups
What you need:
- Plastic cups and lids
- Grapes
- Black Sharpie
- White sticky paper or labels
Instructions:
- Simply remove the lid from the plastic cup and use a black sharpie to draw a hairline at the lip of the cup.
- Then draw the mouth and other features. For the eyes, you can use sticky paper like name tags or labels and then draw on the eyes and stick to the cup.
- Add green grapes and you have a fun and healthy snack.
Banana Ghosts
What you need:
- Bananas
- Mini Chocolate-Chips
- White Chocolate
- Milk
- Popsicle Sticks
- Cookie sheet
Instructions:
- Peel the bananas and cut off the bottom quarter. Insert popsicle stick into the bottom of each banana.
- Melt white chocolate in a double boiler or microwave along with a few teaspoons of milk to thin the chocolate.
- Dip the bananas into the melted chocolate.
- Place the dipped bananas on a cookie sheet and use mini-chocolate chips to create the eyes. Then put the cookie sheet in freezer to set chocolate.
- Serve room temperature or cold!
Halloween Doesn’t Have to Mean Cavities: 4 Tips to Protect Kids Teeth
It’s inevitable that the kiddos will indulge in some candy, so here are some quick tips for combating all the sugar consumption:
- Eat dinner before trick-or-treating. If your children have full bellies, they’ll be less likely to overindulge in candy.
- Enjoy Halloween candy after a meal to take advantage of increased saliva production that will help wash away sugar and bacteria left by candy.
- Make sure your children drink extra water to stay hydrated during trick-or-treating and to help wash away sugar that may otherwise cause tooth decay.
- Remind children to brush for two minutes and floss after they dig into their trick-or-treat bags. Practicing good oral hygiene will help keep their mouths clean and their teeth free of decay.
Looking for more healthy Halloween treats or tips? Check out our other Halloween-themed posts.
